Indie rockers Imagine Dragons will be “tiptoeing” their way to State College for tonight’s annual Founder’s Day Celebration.
The band will take the stage at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center for the event, which is being presented by the Penn State Lion Ambassadors in association with the Student Programming Association .
SPA Entertainment Chairwoman Heather Maggi said that the organization began searching last semester for a good act to follow last year’s headliners and recent Grammy winners, fun .
“We wanted someone who was rising in popularity like they were,” Maggi (senior-film and video) said, adding that she is “definitely” expecting a larger turnout than last year’s show. “It’s just a great way to celebrate school spirit.”
Maggi said the organization ran out of tickets for the free event “within 60 minutes,” breaking a record previously held by rapper Pitbull, who visited Penn State in 2009 .
Megan Mansell, marketing chairwoman for SPA, offered praise to the opening act, alternative rock band Nico Vega, which will release its sophomore album “We Are The Art” later this spring.
“I think they’ll be a nice complement to the concert,” Mansell (senior-public relations) said.
Imagine Dragons released its debut full-length album “Night Visions” to mostly positive reviews from music critics last September, and gained national exposure as a result of the album’s lead single “It’s Time” being featured in the trailer for the film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”
The album premiered at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 83,000 copies during its first week. “It’s Time” also received a nomination for “Best Rock Video” at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to Coldplay’s “Paradise.”
The band is currently in the midst of a national tour in support of “Night Visions,” with its most recent stop being at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia on Monday.
Leading up to Penn State’s 158th birthday on Feb. 22, the concert intends to kick off the Founder’s Day festivities, which will continue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and feature performances by various student groups, Maggi said.
Chris Pierangeli, senior committee director for Lion Ambassadors, also promises a myriad of other activities for the latter half of the celebration, including free food and educational opportunities for students to learn about Penn State’s past. Students will also be able to enter a raffle for the chance to win an iPad or a basketball autographed by members of the men’s basketball team.
Nevertheless, Pierangeli expressed his enthusiasm for the concert portion of the celebration as well.
“I’m really excited to get to see them in person,” Pierangeli (senior-secondary education and social studies) said. “I’m a new fan of Imagine Dragons.”
